What Happened on May 5?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON MAY 5
Explore the most important historical events that happened on May 5, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
Conclusion of the American Civil War
Year:
1865
American Civil War: The Confederate government was declared dissolved at Washington, Georgia.
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American Civil War
Year:
1864
American Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County.
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Cinco de Mayo
Year:
1862
Cinco de Mayo: Troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halt a French invasion in the Battle of Puebla in Mexico.
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History of rail transport in Belgium
Year:
1835
The first railway in continental Europe opens between Brussels and Mechelen.
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Memorial Day
Year:
1866
Memorial Day first celebrated in United States at Waterloo, New York.
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American Indian Wars
Year:
1877
American Indian Wars: Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army under Colonel Nelson Miles.
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Bolsheviks
Year:
1912
The first issue of the Bolshevik newspaper Pravda was published.
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Pitcher
Year:
1904
Pitching against the Philadelphia Athletics at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, Cy Young of the Boston Americans throws the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball.
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BIRTHS ON MAY 5
Discover famous people and historical figures born on May 5, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Andor Lilienthal
Year of birth:
1911
Andor Lilienthal, Russian-Hungarian chess player (died 2010)
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Pritilata Waddedar
Year of birth:
1911
Pritilata Waddedar, Indian educator and activist (died 1932)
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Leo Lionni
Year of birth:
1910
Leo Lionni, American author and illustrator (died 1999)
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Duane Carter
Year of birth:
1913
Duane Carter, American race car driver (died 1993)
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Tyrone Power
Year of birth:
1914
Tyrone Power, American actor (died 1958)
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Zail Singh
Year of birth:
1916
Zail Singh, Indian politician, 7th President of India (died 1994)
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Alice Faye
Year of birth:
1915
Alice Faye, American actress and singer (died 1998)
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Iryna Vilde
Year of birth:
1907
Daryna Dmytrivna Polotniuk, Bukovinian (Ukrainian) journalist and author (died 1982)
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DEATHS ON MAY 5
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on May 5, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Maurice Raoul-Duval
Year of death:
1916
Maurice Raoul-Duval, French polo player (born 1866)
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John MacBride
Year of death:
1916
John MacBride, Irish soldier and rebel (born 1865)
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Alfred Hermann Fried
Year of death:
1921
Alfred Hermann Fried, Austrian journalist and publicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1864)
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A. Sabapathy
Year of death:
1924
A. Sabapathy, Sri Lankan journalist and politician (born 1853)
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Henry Moret
Year of death:
1913
Henry Moret, French painter (born 1856)
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Şeker Ahmed Pasha
Year of death:
1907
Şeker Ahmed Pasha, Turkish soldier and painter (born 1841)
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August Wilhelm von Hofmann
Year of death:
1892
August Wilhelm von Hofmann, German chemist and academic (born 1818)
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Silas Adams
Year of death:
1896
Silas Adams, American lawyer and politician (born 1839)
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HOLIDAYS ON MAY 5
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on May 5 around the world.
Community of Portuguese Language Countries
Lusophone Culture Day (Community of Portuguese Language Countries)
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Martyrs' Day (Albania)
Martyrs' Day (Albania)
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Liberation Day
Liberation Day (Denmark, Netherlands)
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Indian Arrival Day
Indian Arrival Day (Guyana)
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Children's Day
Children's Day (Japan, South Korea)
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Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Awareness Day (Canada and United States)
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National Cartoonist Day
National Cartoonist Day
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Tango no sekku
Tango no sekku (Japan)
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